Process of seaming square cans



Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,698

w. w. HODGSON PROCESS OF SEAMING SQUARE CANS Filed May 21. i926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,698

W. W. HODGSON PROCESS OF SEAMING SQUARE CANS Filed May 21. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 1, 1927.

W. W. HODGSON PROCESS OF SEAMING SQUARE CANS Filed May 21, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F 6' Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. HODGSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO CONTINENTAL CAN COMPANY, INC, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PROCESS OF SEAMING SQUARE CANS.

Application filed May 21,

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in a process of seaming square containers.

An object of the invention is to provide a process whereby a double seam for joining the end to the body portion of a square container is so formed that the seam is completed first at the corners and subsequently thereto along the side portions of the container body.

A further object of the invention is to provide a process of the above type wherein the steps of the process are carried out by squeezing dies as distinguished from seaming rollers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a process of the above character wherein the first operation in the forming of a double seam for joining the end to the container body is simultaneously performed in the region of the four corners, and subsequently performed along the sides of the container body, while the second operation in the fOIIIliIlg of the double seam is likewise simultaneously performed at the four corners,

and finally along the sides of the container between the corners.

In the drawings which show by way of i1- lustratioh the various positions of the dies for carrying out my improved process- Figure l is a plan View showing four squeezer dies for performing the first o eration of a double scam in the region of the corners of the container body;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View 011 the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the dies for performing the first operation along the sides of the container body;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. (i is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the dies for performing the second operation of double seaming, in the region of the corners of the container body; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional View on the line '7-7 of Fig. 6.

It is well known that many diiliculties have been experienced in the forming of a double seam for uniting the end of a square container to the body thereof, for the reason 1926. Serial No. 110,698.

that the seams along the sides extend in substantial straight lines, while the seams at the corners are sharply curved. A seaming roll runnin along this seam is liable to cause the metal to buckle or fold in such a way as to fail to form a tight seam at the corners of the container. Squeezing dies have been used for forming double seams for square containers, but here too, when the entire seam is formed at the same time, it is ditficult to get a tight seam at the corners of the container body. The present invention is directed to a method of forming a double seam for joining the end of a square container to a container body, wherein the double seam is formed at the corners of the container body and the region adjacent the corners, prior to the forming of the seams along the sides of the container body. The dies for forming the double eain are sectional dies, and are -haped and timed so that first the die which will produce the iii-st operation is presented to the flange of the container end and the flange of the container body, so as to perform the first operation rolling of the double scam in the region of the corners, the amount of rolling of the metal gradually tapering ofi' toward the centers of the sides of the container body. After this first operation has been performed in the region of the corners of the container, then the container is submitted to other squeezer dies which perform the first operation on the flanges along the sides of the container body. In other words, the metal is completely rolled along the sides into the first operation of the double seam. Thus it is that the double seam is rolled into the first operation all the way around the container body. After the first operation rolling has been formed, then the container body is submitted to squeezer dies which perform the second operation at the corner portions of the container body, and finally the container is submitted to other squeezer dies which finish the second seaming operation along the sides of the con tainer, and thus complete the entire double seam.

By this process, wherein the corners are first seamed, I am able to get a very tight seam at the corners, and 1 am also able to get a tight seam along the sides of the container body, so that the end is joined to the container body by a well-formed tight doulUU blc seam throughout the entire extent of the seam.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have shown four dies 1, 2, 3 and 4. These dies are corner dies, and each corner die is provided with a first operation seaming groove 5 The depth of the seaming groove is indicated by the broken line 6 in Fig. 1. It will be noted that the seaming groove is of such depth, that at the corners, the metal is rolled so as to complete the first operation in the double scam in the region of the corners, while the metal in the flanges of the container end and the container body, are not rolled at all along the sides of the container body. In Fig. 2 of the drawings, the container body is indicated at 7 and is provided with the usual flange 8. The container end is indicated at 9, and this container end is provided with the usual curled flange 10. A suitable center chuck 11 is used. The corner die 4 is provided with a seaming groove 5, and underneath horizontal ledge 12 and an overhanging ledge 13. These ledges sustain the metal parts, and aid the seaming groove 5 to roll the curled flange into the first operation double seam, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the seaming groove 5 is shallower at the corner than it is in the region of the side, and thus it is that the metal is rolled so as to complete the first operation in the forming of the seam in the region of the corners without rolling the meta to an extent at the middle portion of the side. he rolling of the metal varies from the completed first operation at the corners, until it vanishes in the side portion of the container body.

After the container body has been submitted to this first step in the process of forming a double seam, it is then presented to a sectional die consisting of four parts 14, 15, 16 and 17. These dies engage the flange of the end and the flange of the container body along the sides of the container body. The seaming groove in the sections of the dies are similar in shape, and are similar in depth all the way across the face of the die. The seaming groove is indicated at 18 in Fig. 5, and also indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 4. It is noted that these dies at the corners of the container body are provided with ample clearance so as not to engage the seam which is formed in the first step of the process. As these sectional dies are moved inwardly, the first operation of the double seam is completed all the way around the container body. In Figures 1 and l, the container body and end are not shown. but these parts of the container are shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5. The dies are shown in all the figures in their closed position, that is, in the position where the seam, or portion of the seam which the dies form, is completed.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, I have shown four corner dies, 19, 20, 21 and 22. These dies are shown in their closed position. Each corner die is provided with a finishing seaming groove 23. This seaming groove 23 is indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 6, and it will be noted that it is made con siderably greater in depth opposite the sides of the container, while at the corner portions, it is of such depth as to finish the double seam. B the use of these dies, the double seam is nished at the corners and partly finished along the sides immediately adjacent the corners. After this operation has been performed on the container body, it is then placed in another set of dies similar in arrangement to the dies in Fig. 4, but provided with a seaming groove for finishing the double seam along the sides of the container intermediate the end portions. These grooves are of uniform depth throughout, and as the sections of the dies move into squeezing relation on the seaming joining the end of the container body, they will complete the double seam all the Way around the container body.

It will be apparent from the above description that my improved method consists broadly in the forming of a double seam for a square container by dies, which are so constructed that the double seam is formed first at the corners and then along the sides. Thus it is made possible that I am able to provide a. very tight seam for joining a can end to a container body.

It will be understood, of course, that the dies may be ditferently shaped and proportioned, and that means may be provided for performing one operation after the other in Succession automatically. The present invention is particularly directed to the process, and therefore, the apparatus for carrying out the process can be greatly varied from that shown more or less diagrammatically in the drawings. The present showing is purely for the purpose of illustrating the steps in my improved process.

While I have referred to the container as a square container, it will be understood, of course, that it may be rectangular in cross section, with certain of its opposed sides longer than the other opposed sides. I use the term square with particular reference to the corners, rather than to the length of the sides.

While I have described in detail dies for performing the curling operation, it will be understood that other instrnmentalities may be used for this purpose, the essential feature residing in the fact that the metal is rolled to perform the first operation of the double seam at the corners, after which the first operation of the double seam is completed along the sides of the container.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process of double seaming square containers comprising eon'ipleting the first operation in the double seam at the corner portions of the container and subsequently completing the first operation of the double seam along the side portions of the container, and thus completing the first operation on the double seam and finally conipleting the second operation on the double seam.

2. The process of double seaming square containers comprising completing the first operation in the double seam at the corner portions of the container, subsequently completing the first operation in the double seam along the side portions of the container, completing the second operation in the double seam at the corner portions after the first operation of the double seam has been completed throughout the entire extent of the seam, and lastly completing the second operation of the double seam along the side portions of the container.

3. The process of double seaming square containers comprising simultaneously completing the first operation of the double seam at the four corner portions of the container and subsequently and simultaneously cornpleting the first operation of the double seam along the side portions of the container, thus completing the lirst operation in the double seam.

l. The process of double seaming square containers comprising simultaneously completing the first operation of the double seam at the four corner portions of the container and subsequently and simultaneously ron'q'ileting the first operation of the double seam along the side portions of the container, thus completing the first operation in the double seam, simultaneously completing the second operation in the double seam at the four corner portions of the container, and 45 subsequently thereto completing simultaneously the second operation of the double seam along the side portions of the container, and thus completing the double seam throughout the entire extent of the seam.

in testimony whereof, I alfix my signature.

WILLIAM WV. HODGSON. 

